Furuno Vs. Lowrance Radar

[smellslikefish]

I'm thinking of putting radar on my boat for this fishing season and given my lack of knowledge, need help. I have a Lowrance LCX28HD that is a ff/gps combo. It also is radar cabable, all you have to do is plug in antenna. I talked to Jim at BOE Marine and got some info from him. He said that if you want to find birds, you really need 6kw and I would spend 6g's for it. He said you can see birds on the 4kw but you can see those birds with your eyes on the horizon. I know theres been some discussen about this before that some 4kw units can see birds. Seeing birds would be nice but having radar at night or in the fog is my main concern. HAS ANYONE HEAR USED LOWRANCE RADAR? BOE told me that Lowrance has decent radar but it hasn't caught on with the public yet. He did say Lowrance's features can be limiting. He recommended looking at the Furuno 1715 2.2kw dome set-up. This unit comeplete from BOE is $1433. I can get a 24" 4kw dome for my Lowrance, but I would be linking this to my FF and have to run a split screen....Radar/FF....witch means I would have a 5"high by maybe 3-3 1/2"wide screen,vs. a 7" diag. screen with the Furuno. By the way, the Lowrance dome is $1405.

One more thing, if my next year project(i try to do an upgrade every year)was to install auto pilot, do they work in conjuction with the radar and would this effect my radar decision? Thank You very much for any help!!!

[obxnative]

I've got the Lowrance LCX111C-HD with a 4kw closed dome radar. Its ok for picking up other boats & such, but for birds, you can see them by eye by the time the radar picks them up. Maybe with a more power. Its hard to beat Furuno.

[27 sailfish]

For most of us- radar range is not too important.In fog or at night I'm using the 1/4 mile or 1/2 mile range the most to avoid hitting anything.I will zoom out to 1, 2 then 4 miles to see what is ahead of me-like ships/tugs.

I use my auto pilot with the radar running all the time-no trouble at all.

Radar range is limited to how high the dome or array is.I can pick up ships from 8 miles but will miss small boats at 4 miles.Flat shoreline gives a sucky return but the cliffs near Breezy Point are great.

The radar will also pick up bouys/markers -combine that with your GPS and you don't need to look out the windshield .If you can afford a radar- I recommend it strongly.Be sure to use it on clear days so you learn what the blips are- since you can see them.

I run a Furuno unit but nowadays most brands are good for what the average fisherman needs. Skip

[kwalk59]

I had the lcx 26 and used the split screen all the time. I upgraded to the lcx111 for a larger screen to split. Then like you I decided to buy a radar system. Everything that I read and learned on this site and others directed me to a stand alone unit and I am so glad that I got the seperate unit. I went for a 4kw c-70 raymarine, but I dont think you will here a bad word about furuno. Keith

[fishin` fool II]

If your radome/open array is 15' above waterline your radar horizon is 8 miles and will only pickup objects within that 8 miles or large objects that rise above the horizon - ships, sailboats with radar deflectors, tuna towers, etc. On a small boat with the antenna typically 8' above the water line 2kw is OK, 4kw is a bit better because the beam is a bit more narrow.

As Skip said, working 1 - 2 miles at night or in a fog/haze, a 2kw is a great tool for getting home.

[jwinds]

What is the recommendation on mounting the radome on a mast vs roof? Also, should any downtilt be considered?

[fishin` fool II]

The higher the radar the farther the horizon. What is important is that the dome is solidly attached. 2 - 4 degrees is a reasonable down tilt but on smaller radars the beam is so wide it isn't critical. What horizon you would pickup on plane you would lose at idle.

I can't speak for or against Furuno or Lowrance - I'm on the Raymarine pro staff.

[fish stories]

Smellslikefish: Would you keep me posted on your outcome? I did alot of research as well, and was leaning heavily toward the Lowrance due to its plug and play with my head end AND the fact that with my boat, another HE unit is a real issue....

I didn't call BOE, but I basically got the same advice, and ir was to go with Furuno. I didn't price out that one; is the 2.2 KW set-up complete, including the HE?

Thanks-

Joe

[27 sailfish]

One thing about radar and small boats to consider is when it is rough the signal will go all over the place .The higher it is mounted-the worse the effect.Think of a fixed mounted spotlight on a rough night.

Alot of guys use a wedge to put about 4-5* down angle to offset bow rise when running.I trim the bow down slightly with the tabs if I notice the radar signal is breaking up on targets. Skip

[smellslikefish]

I guess my delema is if both units, Lowrance and Furuno, are both $1400, should I go with the 4kw Lowrance or the 2.2kw Furuno. Also is there going to be a huge advantage to the Furuno being a seperate unit. I did just get back from Boaters world in Severna Park. Two things I did'nt know....the Furuno will interface with the Lowrance's gps via cables.....and the Lowrance, which they had in demo mode, actually shows returns in different colors. Why do these decisions have to be so hard. One question, if you have a 4kw unit that is suppose to show more detail farther away, do you lose closs up returns...say 6mph bouys? I'll try to post some pics of my radar screen....